Shenandoah, PA

Walter Ciszek was born and raised in Shenandoah, PA. He lived with his mother and father and two sisters.

Rome, Italy

A special training program for priests was established in Rome, Italy. The program prepped priests for missionary work into Russia where there was widespread religious oppression.

Soviet Union

The country formerly known as Russia was renamed the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics or the USSR when it became a Communist society.

Germany

Ciszek had made it into Russia just when Germany invaded Poland and started World War II. German bombers pummeled the Russian countryside during the early stages of the war.

Lubianka

Ciszek was first assigned to the "dreaded" Lubianka prison after he was first arrested and spent several years there.

Siberia

Siberia is a vast area of Eastern Russia. It is a forlorn region where many of the Soviet prison camps were located during...